Grammar
Pronouns: Relatives and reciprocal pronouns
1st Part
Personal and object pronouns
2nd Part
Demonstratives pronouns
for timing and feelings
3rd Part
Demonstratives pronouns
to show something
4rd Part
Possessive Pronouns
5rd Part
Relative pronouns
6rd Part
Reciprocal pronouns
Grammar in use
- Topic: Relative pronouns
- Skills : Grammar
Use
What is a relative pronoun?

main clause | relative pronoun | relative clause |
---|---|---|
My mother always bakes cakes | which | are delicious. |
A relative pronoun refers to a person or thing mentioned before. It introduces a relative clause. There are 5 relative pronouns.
Relative Pronoun | Used for | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
who | people | subject | The woman who called is a friend. |
whom | people | object | The woman whom I called is a friend. |
whose | people | possession | The man whose car is here is my brother. |
which | things | subject or object | The car which is coming is Ben’s car. The car which Ben drives is new. |
that | people or things | subject or object | The woman that called is a friend. The car that Ben drives is new. |
Language Tips on Relative Pronouns
“Sometimes we use “who‟ for the object in the sentence, instead of „whom‟. It is more formal to use “whom‟.
Examples:
The woman whom I called is a friend. (formal)
The woman who I called is a friend. (less formal)
Sometimes, when the relative pronoun is the object in the sentence, we do not say it.
Example:
The woman I called is a friend.
Answer the following questions
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1. Question
True or False? A relative pronoun refers to a person or thing mentioned before.